This is a sequel to The Skinner, timeframed ten years later. It involves a lot of the same characters and attaches itself leech-like to the same theme of immortality. It is supposed to stand on its own merits, but, with the planet Spatterjay's twisted, everything-kills-everything-else ecology combined with Asher's circuitous plotting, you're up the Amazon in an inner tube without the prequel in your jungle pack.

So, read them back-to-back. You'll want to, anyway. It's only about 1,000 pages.

Go here for the combined review.

© copyright 10/17/2006 by Larry Crawford